Nebraska Head Football Coach Bo Pelini has filled the vacancy on his coaching staff by hiring Terry Joseph as the Huskers' new secondary coach.

Joseph comes to Nebraska following two seasons as the defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Tennessee on Coach Derek Dooley's staff. The 38-year-old Joseph has helped the Tennessee defense rank among the nation's top pass defenses each of the past two seasons.

"Coming to a place like Nebraska was a great opportunity for me," Joseph said. "And then to throw in the chance to work with Bo again, it was the perfect fit. I am excited to get to work with our players and other coaches as we start spring ball and get prepared for the season."

Joseph will take over a Nebraska defensive backfield that returns nine players who started at least one game in 2011, including safety Daimion Stafford, and cornerbacks Andrew Green and Ciante Evans, who each started at least seven games in 2011.

"Terry Joseph is a tremendous addition to our staff," Pelini said. "I have worked with him in the past and he is about as perfect of a fit as you can have. He is a good football coach, a great person and will bring a lot to our staff."

In 2011, the Vols finished 12th nationally in passing yards allowed with an average of just 177.8 yards per game. Joseph oversaw a young defensive backfield, including true freshman Brian Randolph, who earned SEC all-freshman honors last fall.

In Joseph's first season in Knoxville in 2010, Joseph helped the Vols rank in the top 20 in the nation with 18 interceptions, and the group played a key role in a late-season run that earned Tennessee a trip to the Music City Bowl. Safety Janzen Jackson and cornerback Prentiss Waggner each earned All-SEC second team honors. Waggner returned three interceptions for touchdowns to set a school record.

Joseph joined the Tennessee staff after working under Dooley for three seasons at Louisiana Tech from 2007 to 2009, where he also served as the secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. Joseph played a key role in a defensive turnaround at Louisiana Tech.

The highlight of Joseph's stint at Louisiana Tech came in 2008, when the Bulldogs finished second in the Western Athletic Conference and earned its first bowl trip in seven seasons. Tech completed an 8-5 season with a 17-10 victory over Northern Illinois in the Independence Bowl. Joseph also coordinated Tech's recruiting efforts, and the 2009 class was ranked second in the WAC. Joseph was ranked as one of the top five recruiters in a non-BCS conference by Rivals.com.

Joseph worked alongside Pelini as a defensive graduate assistant at LSU in 2006. During his one season in Baton Rouge, he helped the Tiger defense rank third nationally in total defense, and LSU finished the year with a Sugar Bowl victory over Notre Dame.

Joseph began his coaching career in the Louisiana prep ranks, working as an assistant at two New Orleans area schools. Joseph worked at Archbishop Shaw from 1999 through 2002, and at Destrehan High School from 2003 to 2005.

Joseph earned his bachelor's degree from Northwestern State in 1996. He was a baseball standout at the school, and is one of only 12 players in Southland Conference history to earn first-team all-conference honors three straight seasons. Joseph was the conference player of the year in 1995, when he was coached by former Nebraska baseball coach Dave Van Horn. A two-time Academic All-American with the Demons, Joseph owned 10 school records when he completed his collegiate baseball career.

Joseph was a 13th-round draft choice of the Chicago Cubs and played four seasons in the minor leagues with the Cubs and San Diego Padres.

Joseph and his wife, Amanda, are the parents of two daughters, Taylor and Lynleigh.

Joseph is the cousin of former Nebraska quarterback Mickey Joseph, who was a four-year letterman for the Huskers from 1988 to 1991.